Further characterization of macrophage adsorption of suppressor cell activity from tumor-allosensitized spleen

Suppressor cell activity from P815-allosensitized C57BL/6 spleen can be decreased by incubating the tumor-allosensitized spleen cells on monolayers of thioglycollate-stimulated BDF1 peritoneal macrophages for 2 or 4 hr. The adsorption response appears to be specific for macrophages, because adsorption of suppressor cell activity does not occur following incubation of P815-allosensitized spleen cells on confluent monolayers of mouse spleen cells or mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Pretreatment of macrophage monolayers with X irradiation (2,000 rads) or anti-Thy 1.2 serum (and complement) does not affect their ability to bind suppressor cell activity. Adsorption of suppressor cell activity from P815-allosensitized spleen can also be carried out by proteose peptone-stimulated or Corynebacterium parvum-stimulated macrophages. Blockage of macrophage Fc receptors decreases the ability of thioglycollate-stimulated macrophages to adsorb suppressor cell activity. Monolayers of P815 or P388 cells, two cell types positive for Fc receptors, are unable to adsorb suppressor cell activity from the tumor-allosensitized spleen. The significance of our findings is discussed in terms of the relationship between macrophages and suppressor cells in the immune response to normal or tumor allografts.